Watering should be your first line of defense when trying to resuscitate your monstera if you have been neglecting it. However, be sure it genuinely needs watering before you overwater it—surprisingly, too much affection can sometimes kill plants suddenly! It’s likely that your Monstera needs watering if the leaves have grown to be dry and brown and the soil is light and dry. Use a moisture meter to determine whether the soil around your Monstera has too much or not enough moisture.
Hold out for a moment before rapidly giving your dying plant a bucket of water; there are some unique methods that can make your Monstera look and feel healthier.
Before putting your monstera back in its pot and saucer, soak it for 20 to 30 minutes in a bucket of room-temperature water. After that, continue to water it sparingly but frequently over the following week or two before returning to your regular maintenance schedule. If you believe the root system is still fairly dry, you can soak for 30 minutes several times throughout the first week to ensure that the soil’s moisture level is rising.
When restoring a dying and neglected Monstera, soaking is crucial. It functions much better than simply giving it a lot of water, as the water will immediately run into the saucer and leaving the root system equally dry. Therefore, you need ensure that the soil is evenly hydrated throughout.
There are a few steps you can do to prevent wet or dry soil in the future in order to prevent overwatering or underwatering your Monstera. First off, purchasing a self-watering container enables you to be certain that your Monstera is receiving only the water it need. This self-watering pot from Amazon is something we advise.
Additionally, we advise using terracotta containers rather than plastic ones because they let some water to escape out of the sides while plastic containers trap in all the moisture, which can make the effects of overwatering on your Monstera much more pronounced.
Do I need to remove the decaying monstera leaves?
You should cut damaged leaves off your Monstera. Trimming dead leaves helps your plant’s health in addition to improving its appearance.
- Unable to photosynthesize are dead leaves. Any brown or black areas on your Monstera’s leaves are no longer able to supply the plant with energy.
- Dead leaf sections have no protection against rot and infection in comparison to healthy leaves. Dead plant cells provide nutrients that are consumed by bacteria and fungi. For instance, you can notice mold growing on dead leaves that have been left on the plant or in the soil. To help defend the remainder of the plant against these diseases, remove any dark or damaged tissue.
It is possible that only the ripped edge of a leaf will become brown to seal a cut if there is only very minimal damage, such as accidently ripping or torn a portion of the leaf. Leave minor imperfections alone if they don’t affect other parts of the plant or interfere with your pleasure of the plant’s aesthetics.
Monstera damage to the roots and stems can be more serious than damage to the leaves because it prevents the plant from transporting water and nutrients. Check out our guides to root rot and stem damage, coming soon.
How can you assist a monstera who is in need?
The root rot that affects Monstera is likely the most devastating condition. This is due to rot’s ability to spread quickly and irreversibly. It may start at the roots and work its way up, eventually destroying the entire, once-beautiful houseplant.
Root rot is typically brought on by excessive wetness, or “wet feet.” It can be caused by overwatering, employing a planter without a drainage hole, and having soil that doesn’t drain well. Because your plant won’t be able to use any water you give it as effectively without sufficient light, low light is also a factor.
Root rot symptoms can range widely and include yellowing, browning, blackening, leaf spot, drooping, and curling. It is always worthwhile to reassess your watering plan and examine the soil moisture levels if any of these problems arise. You’ll need to remove your Monstera from its planter if you have any suspicions so you can examine the roots.
Unfortunately, your plant is in some difficulty if the roots become mushy, black or brown, and smell bad.
Did you realize? Root rot is a rather encompassing phrase. The problems could be bacterial, fungal, or both.
- Examine the damage. Does it affect the stem or simply the roots? You’re going to need to pull a knife out in any case.
- REMOVE THE WHOLE AFFECTED PART. If doing so necessitates removing the majority of the root ball, so be it. You can keep only the healthy bits of your Monstera. Remove any leaves that appear to be ailing as well.
- Repot in new, appropriate soil. Always use a planter with a drainage hole and make sure to mix quality aroid soil.
- Be tolerant. Place your Monstera in an area with adequate air moisture levels and light (50 percent or up is good; use a humidity meter to check). Keep the soil just barely damp. Hopefully the plant will establish new roots, and the problems won’t recur.
Did you realize? All hope is not lost, even if the rot has spread to the stem of your Monstera. Use the Monstera propagation guide to learn how to successfully rebuild your plant after cutting off the harmed areas.
How can rotting monstera be preserved?
You won’t be able to repot your Monstera as usual if, after cutting back the roots, you discover that it no longer has any healthy roots. You will now need to assist it in developing new roots by propagating stem fragments.
Cut off any rotted Monsteraroots, stems, leaves, or other portions of the plant that have been impacted by root rot first.
Do you still have any stems with leaf nodes? If so, fantastic! Your Monstera is still alive.
Planting Monstera stem cuttings as though you were repotting them or growing them in water are the two primary methods of propagation.
Simply follow steps 4 and 5 above to propagate them in soil. Till the infant Monstera begins to form roots, keep it out of direct sunlight. Giving it a gentle tug will allow you to determine whether it has roots yet.
Put the Monstera stem in a glass or vase of fresh water to facilitate water propagation. To keep the water clean, change it every few days. You can repot it as in Step 4 after the plant begins to grow roots.
How does a Monstera look when it is overwatered?
The Swiss cheese plant, or Monstera, is a great choice for interior design because of its distinctively sized leaves. However, if not properly cared for, the plant is susceptible to temperature changes and overwatering and may display unfavorable symptoms including drooping and discolored areas on the foliage. What are the symptoms of monstera overwatering, and how can you save the plant?
The yellowing, drooping, and development of brown patches on the leaves are indications of an overwatered monstera plant. To prevent root rot, repot the monstera in a potting mixture that drains properly. Lightly water the plant to keep the soil moist, and then wait until the top 2-3 inches of soil are completely dry before watering the plant again.
Which leaves of my Monstera should I chop off?
It is advisable to to remove your Monstera entirely if the stem has broken. Cut it off at an angle as close to the stem’s base as you can using a sharp knife. Because the old, damaged stem can’t be repaired, it is preferable to let the plant focus its resources on developing new growth.
Why is my Monstera fading away?
A monstera dying after repotting is caused by the roots being ineffective at absorbing moisture and nutrients because they have not yet been established in the new soil. After repotting, this makes the monstera leaves droop and look to be dying.
In order to prevent root rot, monstera also need potting soil that is well drained, porous, and aerated.
The roots’ ability to soak up moisture and nutrients is hampered if the potting soil is overly compacted or absorbs too much water, which can cause the leaves to become yellow.
When you repot your monstera plant, be careful not to compact the dirt around the roots too much because doing so will force the oxygen out of the soil, which is necessary for root respiration, and will also make it difficult for water to drain properly after watering.
To boost aeration and improve drainage when repotting monstera plants, I advise enriching the potting soil with succulent and cactus soil or orchid potting medium. This aids in simulating the natural environment’s soil composition for monstera.
To ensure proper drainage of excess water, it’s crucial to repot the monstera into a container with drainage holes in the base. Regularly empty the trays and saucers under the pot to avoid water gathering there, which can lead to root rot.
Key Takeaways:
- Low humidity and dry soil are the usual causes of a monstera that is dying. Tropical monstera plants demand thorough watering every 7 days and at least 30% humidity. The leaves turn dark and look to be dead or drooping if the humidity is too low or the soil dries up completely.
- The overwatering or inadequate drainage causes the soil to get overly damp, which causes the monstera leaves to become yellow. Between waterings, the top inch of the soil must somewhat dry out for monstera. Because of root rot, monstera leaves will turn yellow and droop if the soil is always moist.
- A monstera plant will sweat if the soil is too wet, thus this is a good sign. Between waterings, monstera plants need the top inch of soil to dry off. The monstera begins to sweat as a symptom of stress if the soil is constantly wet from overwatering or poor drainage.
- Low humidity and dry soil conditions cause monstera leaves to turn brown at the margins, while over watering and moist soils can also cause fungal disease pathogens that cause monstera leaves to turn brown or black. Tropical forests with high humidity and moist, but well-draining soil are the natural habitat of monstera.
- The usual causes of drooping monstera leaves include dry soil, excessive fertilizer, or a lack of support. Monstera are climbing vines that need a support structure to climb in order to keep the plant upright. When given too much fertilizer, monstera has weak, drooping growth. Large leaves on monsteras require a lot of moisture. The leaves and stems get droopy when the soil is dry.
- Insufficient light, a deficiency in fertilizer, or a lack of a support structure are the causes of monstera’s slow growth. During the growing season, monstera need bright, indirect light and frequent fertilization. The leaves of the monstera cannot grow in low light conditions or in the absence of fertilizer.
- A dying monstera can be brought back to life by simulating the conditions of its native habitat, which includes placing it in bright, indirect light, letting the top inch of soil dry between watering sessions, and spraying its leaves daily to promote humidity.
How do I trim a Monstera leaf that is fading?
Fortunately, trimming a monstera is not too difficult. Since they are a hardy plant, they don’t need to be meticulously pruned. In other words, even if you don’t perform a great job, your plant will probably be alright.
You’ll want to remember a few things, though:
1. Put on gloves. When pruning or propagating your monstera, be sure to use protective gloves because the sap is poisonous and can cause severe skin irritation.
2. Use a tidy, sharp instrument. You can avoid crushing or damaging the stem by using sharp pruning shears or a knife to make the cut. Your plant is also shielded from hazardous microorganisms by clean tools. Bacterial diseases can even spread to your other plants and are difficult to treat. (Protect your monstera from insects, fungi, and bacteria with our Houseplant Leaf Armor!)
Instead of slicing the stem off, just give it a good snip or chop while cutting. The cleanest cut will be made as a result.
3. If you can, prune in the spring, especially if you want to promote growth. Growth spurts occur in the spring and summer for the majority of plants, including monstera. Pruning in the spring will yield the best benefits and hasten the recovery of your plant. You should prune in the spring because that is when your cuttings will grow the fastest if you intend to propagate them.
4. Arrange the slices. Starting at the base of the stem, remove any outdated or diseased leaves.
Cut where you want the plant to grow if you are pruning to promote growth. Make a top cut if you want it to grow higher.
When the time comes to actually trim your monstera, keep in mind that pruning promotes growth so choose where to make your cuts. You can safely reduce the plant’s size if you’re pruning to manage your monstera’s size. Just remember that it will eventually need to be done again because it will grow back.
5. Be sure to cut below a node if you’re propagating. Don’t be concerned if you’re only trimming to reduce the size of your plant or get rid of dead leaves. However, if you want to grow your cuttings from them, make sure that they have a node, which is a tiny knob that develops on the stem opposite a leaf. When your cutting begins to grow, these will subsequently develop into aerial roots!
Try our new Houseplant Propagation Promoter!
6. Prevent unintentional proliferation. When you’re done pruning, be careful to dispose of your cuttings in the trash if you’re not going to propagate them because if you place them in a compost pile or somewhere else where they can root in the earth, they’ll start to grow roots.
I’m done now! Don’t be afraid to prune your monstera; it’s an essential yet easy component of care for this plant. This plant develops rapidly and bounces back quickly from pruning. Good fortune!